[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65196-65197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31460]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton, Man-
Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile 
Products Produced or Manufactured in Hong Kong

December 5, 1996.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing 
limits.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of these 
limits, refer to the Quota Status Reports posted on the bulletin boards 
of each Customs port or call (202) 927-5850. For information on 
embargoes and quota re-openings, call (202) 482-3715.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended; 
section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
1854); Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

    The import restraint limits for textile products, produced or 
manufactured in Hong Kong and exported during the period January 1, 
1997 through December 31, 1997 are based on limits notified to the 
Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act 
and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 1997 limits. These limits have 
been increased, variously, for adjustments permitted under the 
flexibility provisions of the ATC.
    A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS 
numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories 
with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal 
Register notice 60 FR 65299, published on December 19, 1995). 
Information regarding the 1997 CORRELATION will be published in the 
Federal Register at a later date.
    The letter to the Commissioner of Customs and the actions taken 
pursuant to it are not designed to implement all of the provisions of 
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the ATC, but are designed to 
assist only in the implementation of certain of their provisions.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 5, 1997.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

    Dear Commissioner: Under the terms of section 204 of the 
Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854), the Uruguay 
Round Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and 
Clothing (ATC); and in accordance with the provisions of Executive 
Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended, you are directed to 
prohibit, effective on January 1, 1997, entry into the United States 
for consumption and withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of 
cotton, man-made fiber, silk blend and other vegetable fiber 
textiles and textile products in the following categories, produced 
or manufactured in Hong Kong and exported during the twelve-month 
period beginning on January 1, 1997 and extending through December 
31, 1997, in excess of the following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Category                   Twelve-month restraint limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I                                                                 
200-229, 300-326, 360-369, 400-414, 464-    236,571,223 square meters   
 469, 600-629 and 665-670, as a group.       equivalent.                
Sublevels in Group I                                                    
219.......................................  40,765,382 square meters.   
218/225/317/326...........................  72,329,264 square meters of 
                                             which not more than        
                                             3,983,614 square meters    
                                             shall be in Category 218(1)
                                             \1\ (yarn dyed fabric other
                                             than denim and jacquard).  
611.......................................  6,427,213 square meters.    
617.......................................  4,055,120 square meters.    
Group I subgroup                                                        
200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as  108,370,178 square meters   
 a group                                     equivalent.                
Within Group I subgroup                                                 
200.......................................  351,463 kilograms.          
226/313...................................  73,124,341 square meters.   
314.......................................  19,720,758 square meters    
315.......................................  9,750,009 square meters.    
369(1) \2\ (shoptowels)...................  801,254 kilograms.          
604.......................................  241,257 kilograms.          
Group II                                                                
237, 239, 330-359, 431-459, 630-659 and     861,136,621 square meters   
 443/444/643/644/843/844(1), as a group.     equivalent.                
Sublevels in Group II                                                   
237.......................................  1,178,824 dozen.            
239.......................................  5,403,886 kilograms.        
331.......................................  4,213,404 dozen pairs.      
333/334...................................  299,232 dozen.              
335.......................................  342,293 dozen.              
338/339 \3\ (shirts and blouses other than  2,909,387 dozen.            
 tank tops and tops, knit).                                             
338/339(1) \4\ (tank tops and knit tops)..  2,185,837 dozen.            
340.......................................  2,786,045 dozen.            
345.......................................  455,179 dozen.              
347/348...................................  6,749,465 dozen of which not
                                             more than 6,659,465 dozen  
                                             shall be in Categories 347-
                                             W/348-W \5\; not more than 
                                             5,046,796 dozen shall be in
                                             Category 348-W \6\.        
352.......................................  6,933,688 dozen.            
359(1) \6\ (coveralls, overalls and         613,340 kilograms.          
 jumpsuits).                                                            
359(2) \7\ (vests)........................  1,278,325 kilograms.        
433.......................................  10,359 dozen.               
434.......................................  11,121 dozen.               
435.......................................  76,592 dozen.               
436.......................................  99,757 dozen.               
438.......................................  819,284 dozen.              
442.......................................  91,889 dozen.               
443.......................................  62,939 numbers.             
444.......................................  41,607 numbers.             
445/446...................................  1,354,168 dozen.            
447/448...................................  68,101 dozen.               
631.......................................  654,264 dozen pairs.        
633/634/635...............................  1,342,208 dozen of which not
                                             more than 502,016 dozen    
                                             shall be in Categories 633/
                                             634 and not more than      
                                             1,030,664 dozen shall be in
                                             Category 635.              
638/639...................................  4,884,258 dozen.            
641.......................................  843,978 dozen.              
644.......................................  44,376 numbers.             
645/646...................................  1,338,683 dozen.            
647.......................................  544,261 dozen.              

[[Page 65197]]

                                                                        
648.......................................  1,159,658 dozen of which not
                                             more than 1,144,868 dozen  
                                             shall be in Category 648-W 
                                             \8\.                       
649.......................................  837,944 dozen.              
650.......................................  173,283 dozen.              
652.......................................  4,935,766 dozen.            
659(1) \9\ (coveralls, overalls and         677,901 kilograms.          
 jumpsuits).                                                            
659(2) \10\ (swimsuits)...................  276,711 kilograms.          
443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to-        57,573 numbers.             
 measure suits).                                                        
Group II subgroup                                                       
336,341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and   156,179,899 square meters   
 651, as a group.                            equivalent.                
Within Group II subgroup                                                
336.......................................  227,679 dozen.              
341.......................................  2,820,117 dozen.            
342.......................................  556,399 dozen.              
350.......................................  138,726 dozen.              
351.......................................  1,191,090 dozen.            
636.......................................  306,415 dozen.              
640.......................................  955,148 dozen.              
642.......................................  243,673 dozen.              
651.......................................  331,841 dozen.              
Group III                                                               
831-844 and 847-859, as a group...........  47,734,699 square meters    
                                             equivalent.                
Sublevels in Group III                                                  
834.......................................  12,470 dozen.               
835.......................................  113,138 dozen.              
836.......................................  164,764 dozen.              
840.......................................  672,047 dozen.              
842.......................................  261,475 dozen.              
847.......................................  360,912 dozen.              
Limits not in a group                                                   
845(1) \11\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  1,127,831 dozen.            
845(2) \12\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     2,699,599 dozen.            
 Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit                               
 elsewhere).                                                            
846(1) \13\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  182,381 dozen.              
846(2) \14\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     439,469 dozen.              
 Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit                               
 elsewhere).                                                            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 218(1): all HTS numbers except 5209.42.0060, 5209.42.0080, 
  5211.42.0060, 5211.42.0080, 5514.32.0015 and 5516.43.0015.            
\2\ Category 369(1): only HTS numbers 6307.10.2005.                     
\3\ Categories 338/339: all HTS numbers except 6109.10.0018,            
  6109.10.0023, 6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and            
  6114.20.0010.                                                         
\4\ Category 338/339(1): only HTS numbers 6109.10.0018, 6109.10.0023,   
  6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and 6114.20.0010.            
\5\ Category 347-W: only HTS numbers 6203.19.1020, 6203.19.9020,        
  6203.22.3020, 6203.22.3030, 6203.42.4005, 6203.42.4010, 6203.42.4015, 
  6203.42.4025, 6203.42.4035, 6203.42.4045, 6203.42.4050, 6203.42.4060, 
  6203.49.8020, 6210.40.9033, 6211.20.1520, 6211.20.3810 and            
  6211.32.0040; Category 348-W: only HTS numbers 6204.12.0030,          
  6204.19.8030, 6204.22.3040, 6204.22.3050, 6204.29.4034, 6204.62.3000, 
  6204.62.4005, 6204.62.4010, 6204.62.4020, 6204.62.4030, 6204.62.4040, 
  6204.62.4050, 6204.62.4055, 6204.62.4065, 6204.69.6010, 6204.69.9010, 
  6210.50.9060, 6211.20.1550, 6211.20.6810, 6211.42.0030 and            
  6217.90.9050.                                                         
\6\ Category 359(1): only HTS numbers 6103.42.2025, 6103.49.8034,       
  6104.62.1020, 6104.69.8010, 6114.20.0048, 6114.20.0052, 6203.42.2010, 
  6203.42.2090, 6204.62.2010, 6211.32.0010, 6211.32.0025 and            
  6211.42.0010.                                                         
\7\ Category 359(2): only HTS numbers 6103.19.2030, 6103.19.9030,       
  6104.12.0040, 6104.19.8040, 6110.20.1022, 6110.20.1024, 6110.20.2030, 
  6110.20.2035, 6110.90.9044, 6110.90.9046, 6201.92.2010, 6202.92.2020, 
  6203.19.1030, 6203.19.9030, 6204.12.0040, 6204.19.8040, 6211.32.0070  
  and 6211.42.0070.                                                     
\8\ Category 648-W: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0040, 6204.23.0045,        
  6204.29.2020, 6204.29.2025, 6204.29.4038, 6204.63.2000, 6204.63.3000, 
  6204.63.3510, 6204.63.3530, 6204.63.3532, 6204.63.3540, 6204.69.2510, 
  6204.69.2530, 6204.69.2540, 6204.69.2560, 6204.69.6030, 6204.69.9030, 
  6210.50.5035, 6211.20.1555, 6211.20.6820, 6211.43.0040 and            
  6217.90.9060.                                                         
\9\ Category 659(1): only HTS numbers 6103.23.0055, 6103.43.2020,       
  6103.43.2025, 6103.49.2000, 6103.49.8038, 6104.63.1020, 6104.63.1030, 
  6104.69.1000, 6104.69.8014, 6114.30.3044, 6114.30.3054, 6203.43.2010, 
  6203.43.2090, 6203.49.1010, 6203.49.1090, 6204.63.1510, 6204.69.1010, 
  6210.10.9010, 6211.33.0010, 6211.33.0017 and 6211.43.0010.            
\10\ Category 659(2): only HTS numbers 6112.31.0010, 6112.31.0020,      
  6112.41.0010, 6112.41.0020, 6112.41.0030, 6112.41.0040, 6211.11.1010, 
  6211.11.1020, 6211.12.1010 and 6211.12.1020.                          
\11\ Category 845(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2074, 6104.29.2079,      
  6110.90.9024, 6110.90.9042 and 6117.90.9015.                          
\12\ Category 845(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2070, 6104.29.2077,      
  6110.90.9022 and 6110.90.9040.                                        
\13\ Category 846(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2068, 6104.29.2075,      
  6110.90.9020 and 6110.90.9038.                                        
\14\ Category 846(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2066, 6104.29.2073,      
  6110.90.9018 and 6110.90.9036.                                        

    Imports charged to these category limits for the period January 
1, 1996 through December 31, 1996 shall be charged against those 
levels of restraint to the extent of any unfilled balances. In the 
event the limits established for that period have been exhausted by 
previous entries, such goods shall be subject to the levels set 
forth in this directive.
    The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment in the 
future pursuant to the provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreements 
Act, the ATC and any administrative arrangements notified to the 
Textiles Monitoring Body.
    The conversion factors for merged Categories 333/334, 633/634/
635 and 638/639 are 33, 33.90 and 13, respectively.
    In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner of 
Customs should construe entry into the United States for consumption 
to include entry for consumption into the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs 
exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).
    Sincerely,
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 96-31460 Filed 12-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F